Abstract

BACKGROUND
Antisynthetase syndrome (ASS) is a rare systemic autoimmune disease. The clinical features of ASS include interstitial lung disease (ILD), myositis, arthritis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, mechanic’s hands, and unexplained fever. There is a paucity of reported cases and management guidelines in pregnancy. This report describes the case of a 25-year-old Saudi woman with a 2-year history of ASS with ILD who commenced azathioprine treatment in the third trimester and had a successful birth at term.
CASE REPORT
A 25-year-old Saudi primigravida woman with a 2-year history of ASS with ILD presented at 26 weeks of gestation after being lost to prepregnancy follow-up and discontinuing her medications. Azathioprine treatment was commenced, and despite poor prepregnancy follow-up, her pregnancy remained uneventful until 39 weeks, when fetal ultrasonography showed oligohydramnios. Therefore, labor induction was initiated, and she delivered vaginally with no postpartum complications or flare-ups.
CONCLUSIONS
The multisystem autoimmune disease ASS is a rare condition, and there are no clinical guidelines for its management in pregnant women. This case report highlights some aspects of ASS management and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach.

Keywords: Pregnancy; Myositis; Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia; Antisynthetase Syndrome; Anti-Jo-1 Autoantibody